Thread-controller for overseaming-machines.



L. ONDERDONK.

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR OVERSEAMING MACHINES.

APPLICATION HLED ocT. 28. 1913.

IL 1 9?,5 {5 q. Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. ONDERDONK.

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR OVERSEAMING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 28. I913. 55,, Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

L.-ONDERDONK.

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR OVERSEAMING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1913.

l 1 Q'Yflfi 5 Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

5 SHEETS SHEET 3.

L. ONDERDONK.

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR OVERSEAMING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28.1913.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

avwm woz 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

m W m w I L. ONDERDONK.

THREAD CONTROLLER FOR OVERSEAMING MACHINES.

| ATION FILED OCT; 28. me.

i 9 1 9?,U5 U: Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

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magma ONJDERDONK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., nssienon TO-UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CI-IICAGO, ILLINOIS, A GORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

THREAD-CONTROLLER FOR OVERSEAMING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LANSING ONDERDONK, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city,fin the county of New York, State of'New York, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Thread- Controllers for Overseaming-Machines, of which the following is a description, refer- -ence"beingluul to the accompanying draw ing,-and to the figures of reference marked thereo" The invention relates to new and useful improvements in overseaming machines and more particularlyto what is known in the art as a cup feed machine.

An object of the, invention is tolprovi'de a machine of the above type with threadcontrolling devices which operate to take up the. looper thread twice during each cycle of operation of the stitch forn'lingelernents, said controlling devices being timed'to draw the looper thread taut prior to the needlepoint passing between the body of the looper and the looper thread, so that the needle will, with certainty, enter the looper threadloop, and also to draw the looper thread taut just as the needle loop is being shed from the looper and the stitchset, and just as the looper poin is advancing into the needle loop so as to prevent the looper thread from buckling and thus crowding the needle loop to one side and causing the skipping of the stitches.

A further object of the invention is to provide a thread controlling device of the above character with a cooperating thread controlling device for the needle thread, which pulls on the needle thread just as the needle loop is dropped from the looper so as to draw the stitchtaut and set the same. The needle thread controller also pulls. slightly on the needle thread, just as. the point of the needle is leaving the material to give a still further stitch setting pull on the needle loop.

A still further object of the invention is to provide thread controlling devices for both the looperand needle threads, wherein the acting or movable elements are all mounted upon the, looper supporting rod and moved in timing therewith.

These and other objects will in part be Specification of Letters Patent.

I Application fi led-October 28, 1913. Serial No. 797,775.

tion; Fig. Qis a top plan'view of the machine with the cover plate removed, Fig. 3 is a' plan view of the feed wheels, stitch finger, the stitching elements, and the immediate thread guides therefor, showing the looper'in position for theneedle to enter the needle loop; Fig.4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the looper moved to a point for entering the needle loop; Fig, 5 is a perspective view of the needle "and looper, the thread controlling devices, the feed wheels, and the needle guide and stitchfinger, show ing the looper as directly over the fabric on its way to the inside of the fabric; Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 5, showing the looper just as it is entering the needle loop; Fig. 7 is a similar view showim the looper positioned for the entrance'ot the needle into the looper thread loop; Fig. 8 is a similar view, showing the looper moved to the position for shedding the needle loop.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail showing the relation of the looper to the needle when the needle is passing between the looper thread and the body of the looper.

The invention consists generally in an overseamiog machine wherein two feed the needle first on one side of the material and then the other, moving over the edge of thematerial so as to lay the threads around the edge of the material, thus forming an over edge connecting seam for the pieces of fabric or material being stitched.

Cooperating with the looper are thread controlling-devices which operate upon the looper thread to draw the same taut when the needle loop is being shed from the looper and the stitch is being set, and also when the looper point is entering the needle loop. These controlling devices also draw the looper thread taut just as the-point of the needle is passing-between the body of the looper and the looper thread so as to insure the needle entering the looper thread loop.

Cooperating with the needle are thread controlling devices which operate to draw on the needle thread as a needleloop is shed from the loopercso as to draw up the loops and set the stitch, and which thread controllingdevices also draw on the needle thread as the point of the needle is leaving thematerial to cause a final setting of the stitch.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

.my improved machine consists of a supporting casing 1,'which houses the operating devices for the stitch forming elements.

, v Mounted in suitable journals carried by the casing is a main shaft 2. Thismain shaft carries a belt wheel 3 at each end thereof.

At the forward part of the casing there is a suitable bracket in which is mounted a ver- .tical shaft carrying a feed wheel 4. Pivoted at 5 to this bracket is a second movable -bracket 6 in which .is journaled a shaftcarthe feed wheels,

cured to'the needle bar between the bearings rying a feed wheel 7. The fabric or material to be stitched is clamped between .the feed wheels 4 and 7 so that the edges eXtend slightly above said feed wheels. The shafts carrying the feed wheels have intermeshing gears'8 and 9 respectively, so that these feed wheels are caused to travel in unison in opposite directions,'and, therefore, said feed wheels cotiperate in feeding the fabric or material "being stitched to "the stitching 12 and 13. This collar has a depending lug which is connected by a link 15 to a. lever 16. This lever 16 isfulcrumed so as to turn freely on a supporting shaft 17, which, in turn, is mounted in suitable journals 18 carried by the casing. The lever 16 between its ends carries a ball stud 19, to which-is pivotally connected a link 20. This link 20 at its opposite end is formed integral with an eccentric strap 21, which cooperates with an eccentric 22 on the main shaft 2. I As the main shaft 2 rotates, this eccentric 22 positively vibrates the lever 16 back and forth, and the lever, through the link connection 15, positively reciprocates the needle.

Cooperating with the needle 10 is a looper 23. This looper 23 is-mounted in a looper rod 124, which, in .turn, is mounted in a looper rod support '25. This looper rod support is in the form of a double yoke, which carries at each side a short stud shaft and fixed collars 29'prevent the sleeve 28 from moving endwise, but also allow the looper rod to turn in the sleeve. The lever 27 has a laterally extending ball stud between its endsto which is pivotally connected a link 30. This link 30 is formed integral with an eccentric strap yvhich cooperates with an cecentric on the main shaft. The rotation of the main shaft will, through the lever 27, move the looper rod endwise in the looper rod support 25, and this endwise movement of the looper rod carries the looper from one side of the material tothe other, and thus lays lthe threads over the edge of the materia 'The looper rod is oscillated in its sup port. to carry the looperinto and out of the needle loop by a link 32, which is connected side of the material to the-other so as to be carried over the edge of the material by imparting a swinging movement to the looper rod support 25. Mounted on a cross shaft 35 journaled in suitable bearings in the easingis a lever 36. This'lever at its lower end is pivoted at 37 to a link 38 which is formed integral with an eccentric strap cooperating with an eccentric 39 on the main shaft. The lever 36 at its upper end is pivoted to a link 40, and this link is, in turn, pivoted to a ball stud41', carried by a collar 41, clamped on the looper rod. support 25. The pivotal connection between the link 40 and the lever 36 moves. from one side of a line passing through the fulcrum of the lever and the ball stud 11 to the other side thereof, so that, as the level--36 is given one complete oscillation, the looper rod will be lowered and raised twice.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided three separate eccentrics, each of which is connected positively and by a direct series of connections either to the looper rod or the looper rod support. These eccentrics are so timed as to cooperate with each other in moving the looper, but the movement imparted to the looper from each eccentric is, in a measure. distinct and independent from that imparted by the other eccentrics. These eccentrics are so timed that the looper moves forward into the needle loop thrown out by the needle after the needle has penetrated the material, after which the looper, still remaining in the needle loop, is raised and then moved laterally to the other side of the material where it is lowered and positioned so that the needle on its next stroke can pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper, after which the looper is raised and again swung so as to be withdrawn from the needle loop to permit the drawing up of the loops. The looper is then carried across the plane of the material to the other side thereof. and is ready to again enter the needle loop.

Cooperating with the needle is the usual needle guide for guiding the needle, which needle guide is fixed to the outer movable bracket and overhangs the outer iieed wheel. Also cooperating with the needle is a stitch finger, over which the thread loops are laid. These parts, however, may be of the usual type and form no part of the present invention.

This looper operating mechanism and also the needle operating mechanism. whereby the stitch forming elements are given positive movements in proper timed relation to each other, form no part of the present invention, but are shown, described and claimed per se in my co-pending applicatiop filed of even date herewith, Serial No. 79 ,773.

The needle thread is led from the supply through suitable tension disks 42, which are normally pressed together by a spring 43. Said needle thread 12. then passes through a thread guide 44 which is adjustably fixed to the main casing of the machine by a screw 41 and projects laterally therefrom. By loosening the screw 14*, the shank of the thread guide may be moved into or out of the socket supporting the samefor adjusting the position thereof. Mounted on the looper supporting head of the looper supporting rod is a thread guide 45 which has an elongated thread eye 46. This thread eye 46 extends in a direction substantially parallel with the looper supporting rod,,and the needle thread passes through said elongated eye. The needle head is formed with a thread eye 17 and a second thread eye 48. The needle thread 71- passes from the elongated thread eye 46 in turn through the thread eyes 47 and 48 and thence to the eye of the needle. This thread eye 46 moves with the looper rod and will, therefore, have an up and down movement, a back and forth movement, and an oscillating movement. Said thread eye is so positioned relative to the fixed thread guide 11 that said thread eye 46 moves away from the fixed thread guide H when the looper moves over the edge of the material, and continues this movement away from the thread guide it until the looper reaches the lower end of its stroke. Just before the needle reaches the outer end of its stroke, the looper reaches the position in which the previous needle loop is shed. and this continued drawing on the needle thuead causes the loops to be drawn up preparatory to forming of the next stitch. As the looper moves forward to enter the needle loop. the thread eye 46 will be raised. swinging". about the looper rod axis, and this will release the draw on the needle thread suflicient to allow the needle which is being retracted at this time to throw out the needle loop for the entrance of the looper. As the looper moves to the other side of the material and drops to position its thread for the needle to pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper, the new formed needle loop carried by the looper is laid across the stitch finger and the needle thread will be drawn on slightly at this time in order to cooperate with the looper in the final drawing of the loops to secure the final setting of the stitch. Inasmuch as this thread eye for the needle thread is carried by the looper, notwithstanding the fact that the looper follows a very irregular path, due to the combined movements of the looper, still this thread guide will move in proper timing therewith and draw on the thread at the times desired.

The looper thread 1 passes through tension disks 49 and thence through a fixed thread guide 50, which is adjustably secured to the main casing by a screw 50 and projects laterally therefrom. By loosening the screw 50, the shank of the thread guide 50 may be moved into and out of its socket for adjusting the position of the thread guide. Said looper thread Z is led from thelfixed guide 50 to a thread guide 51 fixed to the looper head, and thence passes to the eyes of the looper. This thread guide 50 is so positioned relative-to the thread eye 51 that when the looper is moving to the inner side of the fabric and depressed in order to position the looper thread so that the needle will pass between the same and the body of the looper, said thread eye 51 is moving away I .gages the needle thread running from the from the fixed thread guide 50, and draws on the looper thread. This takes up the looper thread as thelooper 'moves toward the thread guide 50 and also draws on the looper thread to draw it taut before the point vof the needle enters between said looper thread and the body of the looper.

If the looper thread is slack at this time, the needle will not enter with certainty between said thread and the body of the looper, but by this thread controlling device which draws the thread taut, I am able to position the looper thread so as to avoid any possible chance of the needle skipping the looper thread loop. As the looper rises, slack th read-is given thereto, which permits the zlooper to move across the stitch finger to to set the stitch. 4 This drawing on the looper thread also at this time holds the looper thread taut so that when the looper moves forward into the needle loop, there will be no buckling of the needle thread to crowd the needle loop to one side. This is of particular value in this type of machine, wherein the needle loop is thrown upward against the. action, of -gravity thereon, and any slight friction on the needle loop might cause the same 'to beideflected so that the point ofthe looper wouldnot enter the same. .IfEr'o'm the above description it will be ap- *parent that I' have provided a -looper thread controlling-device ,which takes up and gives f u'p i thread twice for each complete cycle of operation 'of'theloo'per, and that-said taking up'jandj'giving upflof the thread is timed so as tofcooperateproperly with the needle {thread controlling devices and also'properly gkwith; the irregular'movements"of the .looper.

I -Inasmuchfasthe movable thread guide is ylthe-looper itself,=1t will also par= I takeofall he irregular movements of the loopernw 're',-necessary'to'thisparticular ap d mnin MountedQi-Eon the looper is if spreader 52,

which projects beneath the looper and en- "eye of the needle to the fabric,-and depresses the same so. as to'fassist-theneedle in entering certainty into thealooper thread loop without being interfered with by its own thread..:';=,This'spreader forms no part of the present invention, but is shown, described and claimedin myco-pending application', Serial No. 57 5,589, filed :August It isobvious that minor changes the in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A sewing machine including in combination, devices for supporting and feeding a fabric in substantially a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocating needle, a looper cooperating with said needle. and carrying a looper thread about the edge of the fabric, means for operating said looper, and thread controlling devices for taking up the looper thread and drawing the looper thread taut just as the point of the needle is about to pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper.

2. A sewing machine including in combination, devices for supporting. and feeding a fabric in substantially a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocating needle, a looper cooperating with said needle and carrying a looper thread about the edge of the fabric, means for operating said looper, and thread controlling devices for taking up the looper thread and drawing the looper thread taut just as the point of the needle is about to pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper, said devices also operating to take up the looper thread as the needle loop is shed from the looper.

3. A sewing machine including in combination, devices for supporting and feeding a fabric in substantially a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocating needle, a looper cooperating with said needle and carrying a looper thread about the edge of the fabric, means for operating said looper, thread controlling devices for taking up the looper thread and drawing the looper thread taut just as the point of the needle is about to pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper,said devices also operating to take up the looper thread as the needle loop is shed from the looper, and needle thread controlling devices for. taking up the needle thread as the needle loop is shed from the looper for setting the stitch.

4. A sewingmachine including in combination, devices for supporting and feeding afabric in substanti'all'y'a vertical plane,fa horizontally reciprocating needle, a looper cooperating with said needle and carrying a vlooper thread about the edge of the fabric,

means for operating said looper, thread controlling devices for taking up the looper thread and drawing the looper thread taut just as the point of the needle is about to pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper, said devices also operatin to take up the looperthread as the needle oop is shed from the looper, and needle thread controlling devices for taking up the needle thread as the" needle loop is shed from the til looper for setting the stitch, said needle thread controlling devices operating also to pull on the thread as the point of the needle leaves the fabric to assist in the final setting of the stitch.

5. A sewing machine including in combination, devices for supporting and feeding a fabric in substantially avertical plane, a horizontally reciprocating needle, alooper cooperating with said needle and carrying a looper thread about the edge of the fabric, means for operating said looper, thread controlling devices for taking up the looper thread and drawing the looper thread taut just as the point of the needle is about to pass between the looper thread and the body of the looper, said devices also operating to take up the looper thread as the needle loop is shed from the looper, and needle thread controlling devices for taking up the needle thread as the needle loop is shed from the looper for setting the stitch, said needle thread controlling devices ope 'ating also to pull on the thread as the point of the needle leaves th fabric to assist in the final setting of the stitch, said looper and needle thread controlling devices being mounted on and carried by the looper rod supporting the looper.

6. A sewing machine including in combination devices for supporting a fabric in substantially a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocating needle, a needle bar carrying said needle, means for reciprocating said needle bar, a looper cooperating with the needle to form an over-edge stitch, a looper supporting rod, means for actuating said looper supporting rod, a thread guide carried by said looper supporting rod, and a fixed guide cooperating with said thread guide, through which guide the looper thread passes, said fixed guide being so disposed relative to the movable guide that the looper thread is taken up and given up twice for each complete reciprocation of the needle.

7. A sewing machine including in combination devices for supporting a fabric in substantially a vertical plane,a horizontally reciprocating needle, a needle bar carrying said needle, means for reciprocating said needle bar, a looper cooperating with the needle to form an over-edge-stitch, a looper support-ing rod, means for actuating said looper supporting rod, a thread guide carried by said looper supportingrod, a fixed guide cooperating with said thread guide, through which guide the looper thread passes, said fixed guide being so disposed relative to the movable guide that the looper thread is taken up and given up twice for each complete reciprocation of the needle, and means carried by said looper supporting rod for taking up and giying up the needle thread.

8. A sewing machine including in combination devices for supporting a fabric in substantially a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocating needle, a needle bar carrying said needle, means for reciprocating said needle bar, a looper cooperating with the, needle to form an over-edge stitch, a looper supporting rod, means for actuating said looper supporting rod, a thread guide carried by said looper supporting rod, a fixed guide cooperating with said thread guide, through which guide the looper thread passes, said fixed guide being so disposed relative to the movable guide that the looper thread is taken up and given up twice for each complete reciprocation of the needle, a second thread guide carried by said looper supporting rod, and a second fixed guide cooperating with said second guide on the looper supporting rod, through which last named guides the needle thread passes, said second thread guide on the looper supporting rod being 'so positioned relative to its cooperating fixed guide that the needle thread is taken upand drawn taut when the looper threadloop is shed from the looper.

9. A sewing machine including in combination devices for supporting a fabric in substantiallv a vertical plane, a horizontally reciprocating needle, a needle bar carigving said needle. means for reciprocating said needle bar, a looper cooperating with the needle to form an over-edge stitch, a looper supporting rod, means for actuating said looper supporting rod, a thread guide carried by said looper supporting rod. a fixed guide cooperating with said thread guide. through which guide the looper thread passes, said fixed guide being so disposed relative to the movable guide that the looper thread is taken up and given up twice for each complete reciprocation of the needle, a second thread guide carried by said looper supporting rod, and a second fixed guide cooperating with said second guide on the looper supporting rod, through which last named guides the needle thread passes. said second thread guide on the looper supporting rod being so positioned relative to its cooperating fixed guide that the needle thread is taken up and drawn taut when the looper thread loop is-shed from the looper, and that the needle thread is drawn taut just as the point of the needle is leaving the fabric.

10. The combination of a needle, means for reciprocating the same in a substantially horizontal plane, a looper, a looper supporting rod for the looper, means for reciprocating said rod, means for oscillating said rod, and means for moving said rod up and down, thread guiding means carried by said looper supporting rod, for the looperthread, and a fixed guide for the looper thread position relative to said movable guide so ting the stitch.

11. The combination of a needle. means for reciprocating the same in a substantially horizontal plane, alooper, a looper supporting rod for the looper, means for reciprocating said rod, means for oscillating said rod. and means for moving said rod up and down. thread guiding means carried by said looper supporting rod for the looper thread. and a fixed guide for the looper thread p0- sitioned relative to said movable guide so that said mo able guide moves away from the fixed guide when the looper is with- I drawn from the needle loop to assist in setting the stitch, and so that said movable guide moves away from the fixed guide when the looper is positioned for the needle to pass between the looper thread and the body thereof.

12. The combination of a needle, means for reciprocating the same in a substantially horizontal plane, a looper, a looper supporting rod for the looper. means for reciprocating said rod. means for oscillating said rod, and means for moving said rod up and down. thread guiding means carried by said looper supporting rod for the looper thread, and a fixed guide for the looper thread positioned relative to said movable guide so that said movable guide moves away from the fixed guide when the looper is withdrawn from the needle loop to assist in setting the stitch, asecond thread guide carried by the looper supporting rod for the needle thread. and a second fixed guide cooperating with said second movable guide. said second fixed guide being so positioned relative to its cooperating movable guide that the needle thread is drawn taut when the needle loop is shed from the looper.

13. The combination of a needle. means for reciprocating the same in a substantially horizontal plane, a looper, a looper supporting rod for the looper. meanst'or reciprocating said rod. means for oscillating said rod, and means for moving said rod up and down, thread guiding means carried by said looper supporting rod for the looper thread. and a fixed guide for the looper thread positioned relative to said movable guide so that said movable guide moves away from the fixed guide when the looper is withdrawn from the needle loop to assist in setting the stitch and so that said movable guide moves away from the fixed guide when the looper is positioned for the needle to pass between the looper thread and the body thereof. a second thread guide carried by the looper supporting rod for the needle thr ad. and a second fixed guide cooperating with said second movable guide. said second fixed guide being so positioned relative to its cooperating movable guide that the needle thread is drawn taut when the needle loop is shed from the looper.

14. In a machine of the character described. a looper bar. a looper. a needle bar.

a needle. thread eyelets located upon opposite sides and above said looper bar for guiding the threads to the looper and needle. and thread guiding means carried by said looper bar and engaging said threads. said thread guiding means cooperating with said eyelets so as to take up and release the threads.

15. In a machine of the character described, a looper bar. a looper, a needle bar. a needle, thread eyelets located upon opposite sides and above said looper bar for guiding the threads to the looper and needle. and thread guiding means carried by said looper bar and engaging said threads. said thread guiding means cooperating with said eyelets so as to take up and release the threads. and means for adjusting the position of the thread eyelets.

16. In av machine of the character described. a looper bar. a looper carried thereby. a needle bar. a needle supported'by said needle bar. a rod adjustably supported by the casing and extending in the same direction as the needle bar and having a thread guide at its outer end. a second rod adjustably mounted on the casing and projecting in the direction of the needle bar, and having a thread guide at its outer end, said thread guides operating to guide respectively the looper and the needle threads. thread guides carried by the looper bar and cooperating respectively with the looper and needle threads for taking up and releasing the same.

In testimony whereof. I ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LANSING ()NDERDONK.

\Vitnesses:

hhrrnnw I. RYAN, J. H. HOWELL.

Copies of this patent maxi be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatentl, Washington, D. G. 

